Massage device



amuenl m 9 m V E Rm. mm HZEG Gn aw Is Hmw l m Patented July 15, 1924.

STATES HALBERT L. HOARD, or roar TKINSON, WISCONSIN;

MASSAGE DEVICE.

Application filed June. 1919. Serial No. $3,843.

To all whom it ma' j concern V Be it known that I, HALBER L. Home, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Fort Atkinson, in the co 'mty of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented a cer tain new and useful Improvement in Massage Devices, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to make and use the saiiie, reference being had to the drawings hereto attached for disclosure as to details of constri'iction.

My invention relates to a massage device.

by means of which the person to be treated may readily apply such. treatment to himself. But the invention may be employed with equal facility, whether the treatment be applied by the patient himself, or by another person. The device embodying my invention comprises, in one of its forms, a frame adapted to be taken in the hand of the patient, or of the operator, and is equipped with suitable rollers for massaging the parts of the anatomy of the patient to which it is desired to apply the treatment.

The frame is composed of a handle or bar, at each end of which the massage rollers are journalled in convenient positions for the application of the desired pressure or kneading action upon the parts to be treated. At one end of the handle or bar, a pair of spaced disc rollers is provided for massaging at one operation the special feeding tissues that adjoin the spinal cartilages and ligaments, so as to stimulate particularly the restoration of the inter-vertebral disks wherein lesions have occurred. At the other end of the handle or bar, a cylindrical roller of greater bearing surface is provided for general massage purposes, and is designed for general application to the various portions of the body of the patient.

In another form, the massage device is constructed of enlarged proportions, and will be used as hereinafter described.

In the drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a plan view of my improved massage device.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation, and

Figure 3 is an end view in elevation looking from the right in Figure 2, but showing a modified arrangement of the disc rollers.

I Referring to the drawings, Figure the handle or bar A, which will be of such size and, configuration as will enable it to be,

easily and firmly grasped by the hand of the patient, or other operator, is provided with forks B and D, at its respective ends,

(these fo'rks being offset equal or unequal distances from the axial line of the handle.) In the fork B, disc rollers C, and C, are

mounted to rotate loosely upon a short shaft 0. These. rollers are spaced apart by means of an expansion spring C and are capable of lateral movement as well free rotation, The said dissed-11ers C, C' are especially designed for massaging thecan tilag es and ligaments at each side of tlre' spinal column.

An'other roller E, of greater, airialdinien; sioris, is journ-alled in theperforatedends or an aura as; D, by means or erases e, I

have found that the device is productive of beneficial effects by the joint use of both constructions of rollers, in treating certain portions of the body. While being used in its entirety, the spaced disc rollers C. C. will furrow the flesh in parallel lines, the pressure also being exerted laterally to the line of travel of the rollers, and this will be followed by the pressure of the long roller E, which is exerted in the direction of travel of the rollers. These cross-movements of the lines in which the pressure is applied, are productive. of grateful sensations as well as material benefits to the patient, the circulation being stimulated and the muscles strengthened. The massage device may be freely used while the patient is in a recumbent position, and with the same beneficial effects whether standing or reclining.

The rollers C, C and E, may cross a line parallel to the plane of the handle as in Fig. 2, or may extend across different parallel planes, as in Fig. 3.

The foregoing description. has been directed to a construction best adapted for hand manipulation. But I have embodied my invention in someother form m which the proportions ofthe elements constituting the device are enlarged to meet the needs of particular cases. For instance, the device in its larger sizes will be provided with brackets F, attached to the handle or bar A, which brackets have journalled therein small rollers G. In such form, the device will be placed against a wall or the casing of a door, the rollers G, being in engagement therewith. The person desiring to treat'himself, will place his back against the device, with the rollers C, C, in position to operate on lines adjacent the spinal will ride freely over the smooth surface of the wall or door casing, as the massage device is reciprocated'to apply treatment.

The pressure of the body against the rollers will be such as to render the treatment effective.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A massage device, comprising a handle provided with yokes at each end thereof, massage rollers mounted in the said yokes, the rollers at one end adapted to exert lateral pressure upon the flesh, a spring sepa- 7 rating the said rollers and permitting their axial movement, and the roller at the other end adapted to exert pressure in the line of travel of the rollers.

2. A massage device comprising a handle provided with a plurality of pivotally mounted disc rollers at one end thereof, a spring between the said rollers to separate them and permit their axial movement. and a pivotally mounted cylindrical roller at the other end thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, this 31st day of May, 1919.

HALBERT L. I-IOARD.

lVitnesses:

KARL A. BONNETT, RUTH Knees. 

